I bought my Viking Emerald 183 8 days ago - have 2 more days to return for full refund of $599. So far the bobbin case was not properly installed when I got it (now know how to fix it) Needle threader broke and they have to order me new one - not major but thats 2 strikes.
Took the first instruction class yesterday and while starting Flatlock stitching machine totally jammed up (making a horrible noise into the bargain) Instructor took bobbin case apart and told me material has to be beyond foot which means stitch starts a good 3/4" in - instructor said if you are putting a neckband on you would keep going in the round so it would not be a problem. When it jammed up fabric was NOT at the edge it was under foot past needle 1/4 inch, are all machines like this? In class the instructor mentioned several times not to do "this" and "that" and quoted the cost of repair parts and how on certain things the machine would have to be sent out to be repaired.
However, I should mention that I like the machine, stitches are very nice and I like the features the machine has. Just afraid that these are warning signs. I am a garment sewer working with a lot of knits and you do have to play with tension so that fabric does not pull to side when stitching seems but that is probably common with machines. Any adivce would be GREATLY appreciated.

If it was me, I'd take it back NOW. You should not have to baby any machine that much and there shouldn't be a long list of work arounds to make the machine sew. While the Emerald isn't the TOL it should make all the available stitches easily and without a specific check list for every one. My 2 cents...
FWIW - when I took my Viking new machine class there was a lady with an Emerald - brand new, she hadn't tried it at all before the class. She ended up leaving it at the shop for repairs. I don't remember all the issues she had but I know she missed most of the class trying to get the machine to sew. THe instructor spent a good deal of time with it, as well. Don't know the final outcome. -- Edited on 10/18/11 8:57 AM --

I have that machine, bought back in 2008, and it HARDLY EVER jams unless I'm doing something wrong. I absolutely love it and haven't experienced anything like you've described. Admittedly, I am afraid of knits and haven't tried them on the machine, but I *do* sew with the overlock stitch a lot, and don't find that it's particularly jam-prone (I start every seam a bit in, however, since I have never gotten along with the backstitch button).

However... I've heard from other, more recent Emerald buyers that those machines are not what they were when I bought mine. There have been lots of bugs and problems with the newer models. It makes me sad, because mine is *such* a fantastic machine, but I don't recommend them wholeheartedly like I used to. (And FWIW, the 183 *was* the top of the Emerald line before they introduced the 200-something, with more stitches.)

Bottom line, you want a machine you can work with right out of the box. A little user error is understandable when you're getting used to the machine--but consistent problems with things breaking? Not so much.

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